Compare towns
Acton vs Milton vs Newfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Milton has the most kids (18.4% under 18).
Newfield has the most homeowners (96.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Acton | Milton | Newfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
4,538Highest |
1,580Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
52.8±8.1 36% above U.S. |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$57,188±$20kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Milton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$318,100±$27kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Acton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,587±$318 12% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
$2,402Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 53% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
49 minHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 133 in ME | #116 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Milton School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Nute High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.